On Jan. 3, 2013, Alvin Bulaoro's body was found inside a sleeping bag in the backseat of his Toyota with gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and a slit throat

Published Mar 15, 2018 at 11:24 AM

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Alvin Bulaoro (L) in a photo provided by his family outside court, and Kevin Coset as he appeared at his arraignment in 2013.

After the prosecutor's opening statement, a man who was once a Camp Pendleton-based U.S. Marine changed his plea and acknowledged killing an Army reservist in a California motel in 2012 -- a brutal attack in which the victim was stabbed 44 times and shot twice.

Prosecutors agreed to drop a special circumstance allegation, which could have sent Coset to prison for life without parole.

Coset, 27, faces up to 51 years to life in prison when he is sentenced April 20.

Bulaoro, 24, was reported missing Dec. 23, 2012. Then on Jan. 3, 2013, his body was discovered inside a sleeping bag in the backseat of his 1997 Toyota 4Runner outside a grocery store in Fallbrook, which is about 54 miles (87 kilometers) north of San Diego. Bulaoro had two gunshot wounds to the head and 44 stab wounds, and his throat was slit almost from ear-to-ear, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

Prosecutors said messages between Coset and Bulaoro indicated they had a sexual relationship.

Detectives said Coset purchased a "pay as you go" phone on Dec. 19 and used it to call Bulaoro and send him 29 text messages between Dec. 20 and Dec. 21, 2012, the day Bulaoro was last seen. Investigators noted that Coset was one of the last numbers Bulaoro had contacted.

Detectives also examined the sleeping bag Bulaoro was found in. They said it was a style sold on base at Camp Pendleton, and someone had used a credit card to purchase one on base in the hours before Bulaoro disappeared.

The same card was used later that day to pay for a Fallbrook motel room. It had an additional $100 charge for damages including a missing comforter and a large pool of blood. No one at the motel called authorities to report it.

Though the room had been cleaned in the weeks since the attack, detectives found Bulaoro's blood under the carpet and on the padding. It was also on the walls, ceiling and furniture, according to court documents.

"Tonight I had to kill for the third time. It was a guy named Alvin Bulaoro in Fallbrook. It was definitely a him or me situation. I find no joy in killing but must survive in my fight against the evil Musgrove organization. They have been plotting against me for years now as well as entering my mind and stealing my intelligence."

Coset had previously been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. Proceedings were delayed while he was in a state hospital. He was later found to be competent and — following a psychiatric evaluation — he was granted permission to represent himself.

Bulaoro was enlisted in the Navy for four years. He worked as a human resources officer at Camp Pendleton, helping Marines with pay, benefits and housing issues.

During that time, he got his bachelor's degree. After leaving the Navy, he became a lieutenant in the Army.